AIPTA says the Govt should pay attention to the immediate needs of the Pirivena education at a time it is celebrating 2600
anniversary of Sambudhdhathva Jayanthi

It is necessary that the new generation of Buddhist monks in Sri Lanka learn the Tamil language to help reconciliation between
communities after decades of war, teachers of Buddhist scripture say.

All Island Pirivena Teachers Association (AIPTA) made of teachers of Buddhism told BBC Sinhala service, Sandeshaya that the
Buddhist monks should be able to communicate with the Tamils in Sri Lanka.

“They should be able to communicate in Tamil and spread the message of peace to the Tamil community,” said Kompitiye Suseela
thero, president of AIPTA.

The thero expressed hope that Buddhist monks communicating in Tamil will help prevent another bloody conflict in Sri Lanka.

Reconciliation

The AIPTA says the government should pay attention to the immediate needs of the Pirivena education at a time it is celebrating
2600 anniversary of Sambudhdhathva Jayanthi, Lord Buddha’s enlightenment.

The President has been avoiding a discussion for over two years, Pirivena teachers say

Pelmadulle Dhammika thero, the general secretary of the AIPTA, meanwhile, stressed the importance of teaching other international
languages such as English to the novice monks, in addition to Tamil, to face the challenges of the 21 century.

“Pirivena is the best place to do that,” the thero said.

Tens of thousands of young Buddhist monks, as well as lay students, study at over 720 Pirivenas, the oldest specialist Buddhist
education establishment in Sri Lanka.

The government can easily sort these issues out at a time where billions of rupees are being spent for mega projects in Sri
Lanka

Kompitiye Suseela thero, President, AIPTA

There are many serious issues related to developing the Buddhist educational system that need immediate attention of the president,
says the AIPTA.

The decades-old salary and allowance systems need to be upgraded and the facilities in many rural Pirivenas are not suitable
for the next generation of monks to have a proper education, it says.

The Association says that there has been no positive response from President Mahinda Rajapaksa for over two years for a meeting
to discuss these issues.

“The government can easily sort these issues out at a time where billions of rupees are being spent for mega projects in Sri
Lanka,” said Kompitiye Suseela thero.